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Archives inspire young poets

5 June 2006

In April 2006, the education staff of the National Archives of Scotland (NAS) entered into a new partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library (SPL) to offer joint creative writing workshops for schools.

Drawing on our exhibition at the time, 'Leaving it all behind: an exhibition of Scottish soldiers’ and airmen’s wills, 1857-1966', we organised a series of workshops with a group of 15 year old pupils and set the pupils the task of writing their own war poems. Our aim was to promote the use of archives to support the teaching of English.

The formal records on display, often quite short and hastily written, contained the last documented words of many Scottish servicemen who gave their lives in defence of their country. In many cases the wills took the form of moving letters, and some were accompanied by poems and prayers.

This was the pupils’ first visit to an archive, their first experience of studying original documents and photographs from two world wars, and their first experience of working with a ‘real’ poet.

Pupils had the option of writing their own free poem or to write three short verses, each in a different voice giving a different perspective on their chosen serviceman.

William Dick

I just signed up today.
I felt it my place to fight for my country.
Mags isn’t too happy about the whole shebang
But it’s just something I have to do.
I hope I don’t miss out on too much…
Private William Dick 12779 Scots Guard
Lost his life on 20th July 1916
after catching an infection caused by a shell
fragment in his leg.
Enclosed with this letter a medal awarded
for bravery.
My best friend – my husband
A fantastic father and a brave soldier
He was so happy before the Germans stole him away
He missed so much of the children’s life
I’d give anything for him to be here now
My William.

Jillian Hood

This is part of the will of Private William Dick
who died from his wounds in France on 20 July 1916.

Will of William Dick NAS ref. SC70/8/278

NAS ref. SC70/8/278

This is an extract from a letter written by a soldier during the First World War.

Will of Robert Purves NAS ref. SC70/8/4/8/2

NAS ref. SC70/8/418/2

“… and there is no chance of getting home again…”

Private RAL Purves wis m’name.
Wis enlisted in the Royal Scots regiment.
And knew it would never be the same.
Nothin’ like my East Lothian tenement,
or the mirrored grievances of a law clerk.
… and there is no chance of getting home again…

As I discover I am no man of war
I see my existence as a dismembered dream.
The shattered splinters of a stimulating kaleidoscopic door,
Torn away from my family, but held in high esteem,
Yet still I continue to flow downstream
… and I reckon there is no chance of getting home again…

Shot m’self the day.
Lettin’ all m’emotions run dry like the Ganhai Sea.
Though it may have been a pusillanimous way,
I’ve finally confronted m’fears with undignified glee.
So I leave for you now my last and final letter
… and I know there is no chance of getting home again…
AGAIN!

Mario Cariello

Death on a Japanese POW Camp, 1943

It’s funny, I swear there was blood on the paper.
His will was in another’s writing.
They say horrible things about these Japanese camps.
They say he was weak from all the fighting.
Now, I will never see him again, not now, not later.
Funny, because of that I don’t like thinking.
James Arthur McWilliam Bain, 32,
17 Ramsted Gardens, Greenock, Scotland,
Succumbed to his injuries on 2nd April, 1943,
In Haito Prisoner of War Camp, Japan.
Estate and belongings left to his wife, Mary-Lou.
Money to be distributed as she sees fit.
There’s blood,
There’s blood on the paper.
Apologise to Mary for not giving her the best life I could,
And for going to the dangerous Front Line.
My only regret is marrying her, my rosebud,
because now she’s going to be a widow before her time.
The blood’s on their hands, mate,
The blood is on their hands.

Melissa Steel

The will of James Bain, prisoner of war (POW)

Will of James Bain NAS ref. SC70/8/1334/512

NAS ref. SC70/8/1334/512



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